Electric snap switch



Patented Mar. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES ERNST MOXTER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,

ASSIGNOB TO CHARLES O. BORTH, OF ST.

LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH.

Application filed October 10, 1921. Serial No. 506,772.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST MOXTER, a citizen of the United States, residingat the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Snap Switches, of which the follow: ing is a specification, reference being had to the. accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof,

This invention relates generally to electric switches and, more particularly, to a certain new and useful improvement in electric switches of the so-called snap type.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide an efficient electric snap switch of few co-operating preferably sheet- .metal parts which may be cheaply and economically manufactured and which may be readily and quickly operatively assembled with a minimum of time and labor.

A further object of my present invention is to provide an electric snap switch in which screws or other such means for fastening the members or elements of the switch together are obviated and in which the snap-effecting spring of the switch also functions to mechanically retain the several elements of, the switch operativcly together.

A still further object of my present invention is to cheapen the cost of manufacture, facilitate quantity production, and simplify the construction of and generally improve upon electric switches of the type described.

With the above and other objects in view, my present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and afterwards pointed out in the claims. y

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the frame of the switch;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the rock ing-support for the movable blades or terminals of the switch;

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the actuating-member or lever of the switch;

Figure 4; is an elevational view of the spring or yielding-member of the switch.

igure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional elevational view of the connection between one of the switch-blades and its supporting member Figures 6, 7, and 8 are, respectively, side,

end, and plan views of an assembled or complete switch embodying my invention; and Figure 9 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the switch, showing the bearings and spring-connection for the blade-carryin and actuating members of the switch.

eferring now in detail to the said drawing, which illustrates a practical embodiment of my invention and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, 1 designates the base of the switch, which, in practice, may be suitably mounted in a switch box or upon a wall or other support with its outer face flush with the surface of the wall, as is customary.

Fixed in spaced relation to and upon the inner face of base 1, are spaced contacts or terminals 22 preferably of the spring copper-jaw type, and intermediate the terminals 22, base 1 is cut away or recessed, as at 3.

Disposed or seated at its bight in recess 3 and suitably secured to base 1, as by screws or the like, not shown, is a frame l of substantially U-shape in end'elevation, as seen in Figures 1- and 7, the frame 4: being preferably constructed bystamping and forming of a single integral section of suitable stiff or rigid sheet metal. At its bight, frame 4 is cut-away and apertured, as at 5, and formed centrally in the bottom edges of the opposite side walls or legs of frame 4 is a pair of horizontally aligning notches 66. Above the notches 6, the side walls of the frame 4 are further cut-away to provide a pair of horizontally aligning approximately V-shaped openings 77, the bases 8 of which are oppositely disposed to, but in vertical alignment with, the notches 6, as best seen in Figure 1, and provide a second pair of notch-bearings, for purposes shortly appearing. In turn above the openings 7, the side walls of the frame 4 are additionally cutaway to provide centrally-disposed open-end assembling, slots 9-9 leading into theopen ings 7, as best seen in Figures 1 and 6.

10 designates what may be termed the sup port for the movable terminals or contacts of. the switch, which support is likewise preferably formed by stamping of a single integral section of suitable stiff or rigid sheet metal and comprises a body-portion 11 of approximately inverted U-shape and oppo sitely disposed arms 12-12 extending laterally from the legs of the body 11, as best seen in Fi ire 2, the body 11 being cutaway or ot erwise formed at its lower or mediate its ends upon such reduced outer end of each arm 12, is a conducting-blade 16; Each res ective'blade 16, as best seen in Figure 5, is interposed on its carrying arm 12 between retaimn -washers .1717 and suitably insulated bot from the washers 17 and the arm 12, as shown, an upsetting or clinching of the prongs of forks 15 upon outer washer 17 simply, yet most efficiently,

securely fastening the blades 16 in position upon their supporting member 10. The blades 16, it may be here added, are of such thickness and dimensions to removably fit between and electrically engage with the fixed contacts or jaws 2 when the switch is in circuit-closing position, as best seen in Figures 6 and 8, and while the present switch is equipped with two such blades 16, the switch,

may equally well include 'a lesser or greater number of such blades as may meet the requirements of any particular installation.

18 indicates the manipulative element or so-called lever of the switch, which is also preferably constructed by stamping and forming of a single section of suitab e stiff or rigid sheet metal and comprises a central portion or body 19, a handle or lever-extension 20 projecting from one or the lower edge of the body 19, a pair of spaced fingers 21-21 projecting from the opposite or up per edge of the body ,19 and oppositely bent or offset at their upper free ends to extend laterally out of and upon opposite sides of the plane of body 19, and a pair of oppo sitely disposed trunnions 2222 projecting from body 19 intermediate the lever-exten sion 20 and the fingers 2121, all as best seen in Figure 3. Fitted upon the lever extension 20'is a handle 23, and I may add that the lever extension 20 is also formed at its lower end with a similar fork 24 which, in a like manner, is clinched upon the handle 23 for securely fastening the same upon the lever 18.

In assembling the several parts of the switch, a blade-support 10 with blades 16 fixed thereupon as described and a lever or manipulative member 18 are first yieldingly attached together by means of a spring 26, one end of the spring being disposed at slot 27 in engagement with the cross or bightpiece of the body 11-of the support 10 and Its other end being engaged at aperture 28 with the lever-member 18. The said parts are then inserted, with the lower or free end of lever 18 presented downwardly, between the spaced walls of frame 4 and support 10 for downward movement through aperture 5 and then pulled downwardly against the tension ofspring 26 to bring its trunnions 22 below the lower pair of notches 6, when pull upon the lever-member 18 is somewhat released and member 18 sprung into engagement at its trunnions 22 with the notches 6 also for rocking movement relatively to the frame 4. It will be noted, Figure 6, that base 1 is formed at its recess 3 with an aperture 25. The frame 4, with the switch-members pro er fitted operatively thereupon as describe is now fitted and secured in recess 3 and the lever-end 24 projected downwardly for manipulation throu h said base-aperture 25, as clearly seen in igure 6. It may be added here that base-aperture 25 is of a less width than the lever-member 18 at its trunnions 22 and, consequently, with the parts assembled as described, the base 1 functions seen best in Figures 7 and 8, the free ends a of the upwardly or outwardly presented legs or side-walls of frame 4 are preferably stayed by cross-pins 29.

In operation, as the lever-handle 23 ,is manlpulated or rocked, one or the other of the fingers 21 is brought into positive pushmg engagement with the body 11 of bladesupport 10 and a limited-positive starting movement of the member 10 thus effected and the spring 26 put under further tension, when, on continued movement of lever 18, the spring 26 functions to snap or rapidly rock the member 10 and its carried blades 16 to either circuit-opening or circuit-closing position, as the case may be. i It will be seen particularly in Figure 9 that the blade-carrying memberlO is of a Width greater than the spacing of the sidewalls of frame 4 and that consequently its rocking-travel or movement is limited by operatively maintaining both the blade-su port '10 and lever 18 in 0 erative detachab e relation to each other an to the main frame 4, the parts of the switch proper being readily. when detached from base 1, taken apart for replacement or repair on a mere detachment or disengagement of the spring 26.

I am aware that minor changes in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the switch may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric snap-switch including, in combination. a frame comprising a pair of spaced rigid walls having aligning apertures, a member having engagement with said walls at said apertures for rocking movement in said apertures and between the walls. rigid arms on said member projecting outwardly at approximately right angles to the opposite outer faces of said walls, contact-blades carried by said arms, and means including a spring having engagement with said member for imparting snap rockingmovement to said member and its carried blades, the snap-movement of said member and its carried blades being limited by engagement of said member with the walls at the opposite sides of said apertures.

2; An electric snap-switch includin in combination, aframe comprising a pair of spaced rigid walls having aligning substantially V-shaped apertures, a substantially U-shaped. member having engagement between the outer ends of its legs and the bases of said apertures for rocking movement in said apertures and between the walls,

oppositely-disposed rigid arms on the legs of said member projecting outwardly at ap proximately right angles to the opposite outer faces of said walls, contact-blades carried by said arms, and means including a spring having engagement with said member for imparting snap rocking-moven'ient to said member and its carried blades, the snap-movement of said member and its carried blades being limited by engagement of said member with the walls atthc opposite sides of said apertures.

3. An electric snap-switch including, in combination. a frame comprising a pair of spaced rigid walls having oppositely-dis posed aligning pairs of notches and substantially V-shaped apertures, a substantially U-shaped member having engagement between the outer ends of its legs and the bases of said apertures for rocking movement in said apertures and between the walls, contact-blades carried by said member, and means for imparting snap rockinginoyement to said member and its carried blades, said means including a lever having rocking-engagement at said notches with said walls, and a spring having engagement with the lever and with said member.

4. An electric snap-switch including, in combination, a frame comprising a pair of spaced rigid walls having aligning apertures, a member having engagement 1 with said walls at said apertures for rocking movcment in said apertures and between the walls, rigid arms on said member projecting outwardly at approximately right angles to the opposite outer faces of said walls, contact-blades carried by said arms, and means for imparting snapmocking-movement to,

said member and its carried blades, said means including avlever having engagement with said walls for rpcking-movement, a spring having engagement with the lever and with said member, and oppositely-disposed fingers on the lever adapted for pushing engagement with the member.

An electric snap-switch including, in combination, a frame comprising a pair of spaced walls having a pairof aligning apertures and a pair of aligning notches, a mem-- her having engagement with said walls at said apertures for rocking movement in said apertures and between the walls, contactblades carried by said member, and means for imparting snap-rocking-movement to said member and its carried blades, said means including a lever having rocking engagement at said notches with said walls, a spring having engagement with the lever and with said member. and oppositely-disposed oii-set fingers on the lever adapted for pushing engagement with said member.

6. An electric snap-switch including, in combination. a frame con'iprising apair of spaced rigid walls having oppositely-disposed aligning pairs of notches and substantially V--shaped apertures, a substantially U-shaped member having support at the outer ends of its legs upon said walls for rocking-niovement in said apertures and between the walls, rigid arms on said membcrprojecting outwardly at approximately right angles to the opposite outer tacos of said walls. contactbladcs carried by said arms, and means for imparting snap-r(.icl ing-n'iovement to said member and its carried blades. said means including a lever. having rocking engagement at said notches, with said walls, a spring having engagen'ient with the lever and with said member, and o1ipositcly-disposed ott-sct fingers on the lever adapted for pushing engagement with said member, the snap-movement of said member and its carried blades being limited by engagement of said member with the walls at the oppositesides of said apertures.

7. An electric snap-switch includin a substantially U-shaped frame provide in Y J jecting through said base aperture and hav- :tures forming notch-be ing rocking-engagement with 'the second a pair of notches, and a spring for imparting snap movement to the support havingyien gagement at its opposite ends with the-gapport and with the lever, the rocking movement of the support being limited by the opposite walls of said V-shaped apertures.

'8. An electric snap-switch including, in combination, a substantially U-shaped stamped metal frame provided in its oppo-' site side walls with a pair of substantially V-shaped apertures, the base of said aperarings, a substantially U-shaged stamped metal blade-support mounte for rocking-movement in said apertures and having engagement with said notches, a pair of oppositely disposed bladecarrying arms projecting through said apertures and movable with said support, said frame being also apertured in its base and provided with a second air of notches oppositely disposed to the rst pair of notches,

and means for rocking said blade-carryin support, said means comprising a stamped meta-l lever projecting through said base aperture and having engagement for rocking' movement with the second pair of notches, and a spring for imparting snap movement to the support having engagement at its opposite ends with the support and with the lever, the rocking movement of the support being limited by the opposite walls of said V-shaped apertures.

9. An electric snap switch including, in combination, a frame comprising a pair of spaced rigid walls having a pair of aligning apertures and a pair of aligning notches, said notches being oppositely disposed to the bases of said apertures, a substantially U-shaped member having detachable engagement between the outer ends of its legs and the bases of said apertures for rocking movement in said apertures and between the walls, contact-blades carried by said memher, a lever having detachable rocking engagement at said notches with said walls,

having detachab e engagement between the outer ends of its legs and the bases of said apertures for rocking movement in said apertures and between the walls, contactblades carried by said member, a sheet metal lever having detachable rocking engagement at said notches with said walls, and a spring having detachable engagement with the lever and with said member, said spring providing a yielding snap connection between the lever and the member and a mechanical connection for detachably securing the lever and member in operative engagement with the frame and said slots accommodating assembly of said member into and out of said apertures.

11. An electric snap-switch including a base and a air of fixed terminals on the base, in com ination with a frame compris-- ing a pair of spaced rigid walls mounted on the base between said terminals, said walls having a pair of aligning apertures and a pair of aligning notches oppositely disposed to the bases of said apertures, a substantially U-shaped 'member having support at the outer ends of its legs upon the bases of said apertures for rocking-movement in said apertures and between the Walls, contactblades carried by said member for releasable engagement with said contacts, and means for rocking said member and its carried blades, said means comprising a lever disposed between the walls and projecting outwardly through the base, the lever having rocking engagement at said notches with said walls, and a s ring having engagement with the'lever an with said member, the snap-movement of said member and its carried blades being limited by engagement of said member with the walls at the opposite sides of said apertures.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

1 ERNST MOXTER. 

